Assistive Technology

As technology is reinvented to make everyday functions easy, its marriage with assistive devices significantly affects the life of individuals with disabilities. This technology is referred to as assistive technology (AT). Assistive technology, including assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices, aids individuals with disabilities in achieving greater independence and self-confidence in their daily lives; specifically, AT enables individuals with a range of cognitive, physical, or sensory impairments to have alternative ways of performing and participating in society. AT also assists in communication, information processing, education, work, and recreation activities.

The importance of AT in the lives of people with disabilities was pointed out in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; also called the Tech Act) as ‘any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability’ [P.L. 108–446, Title 1, Part A, x 602(1)]. According to this definition, AT encompasses a wide range of devices from low-tech supportive tools such as battery interrupters to high-tech advanced and customized electronic equipment such as computers. AT can include mental aids, communication aids, alternative computer access, visual aids, or aids to augment hearing to increase the involvement of persons with disabilities in learning activities.

Through IDEA, AT can be utilized in educational settings with a new assigned term, special education technology, to provide students who require a differentiated instructional treatment with increased and independent learning opportunities. Appropriate AT services can also be offered in free public education.

IDEA highlights AT services, aiming to enable students to have full inclusion and least restrictive environment in schools. This law defines AT service as ‘any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device’ [P.L. 108–446, Title 1, Part A, x 602(2)]. This service includes the following:

• The evaluation of the technology needs of the individual with disability, including a functional evaluation of the individual in the individual's customary environment
• Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of AT devices by such individual
• Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing of AT devices
• Coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with AT devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs
• Training or technical assistance with AT for such individual, or, when appropriate, the family of such individual
• Training or technical assistance for professionals including those individuals providing education and rehabilitation services

The intention of IDEA is that AT devices and services must be provided at no cost to the student, student's parents, and the school staff as part of the student's special education, related services, or supplementary aids and services to facilitate the student's education. However, the school may use whatever state, local, federal, and private resources are available.

Advocates of AT list the individuals who might benefit from special education technology:

• Individuals with mental or physical impairments that interfere with learning or other life functions
• Individuals with mild learning or cognitive problems like learning disabilities or cognitive disabilities ranging from mild to severe that interfere with learning or other life functions

Because AT has demonstrated an ability to provide individuals with disabilities opportunities that fit into their individual needs and abilities, the appropriate [Page 67]use of AT may be delineated when it enables the individual to do the following

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